The New Jersey Devils are donating 10,000 tickets for the 2020-21 season to RWJBarnabas Health front-line health care workers in honor of National Nurses Day and Week.
The donation is just one of three initiatives the club is announcing Wednesday morning. There also is a “Stick Taps at 7” social media tribute campaign and a “Pay it Forward” season ticket member and plan holder ticket donation program.
To launch these new initiatives, the team released a video that honors New Jersey’s health care responders. It features players Kyle Palmieri, Travis Zajac, Jack Hughes and others.
The initiatives follow significant monetary and medical supply-based donations made by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment founders Josh Harris and David Blitzer and the Devils to the RWJBarnabas Health Emergency Response Fund over the past two months.
RWJBarnabas Health is the official health care provider of the team.
“Each passing day, we are filled with more gratitude for front-line health care workers who continue to dedicate themselves to help the residents of New Jersey, and we are humbled and honored to show our appreciation for them with these new team initiatives,” Devils President Jake Reynolds said.
“We are proud to stand alongside our partners, RWJBarnabas Health, as we salute front-line workers whose strength and resilience mirrors the determination of our New Jersey communities, our players and our Devils family.”
The team’s new “Stick Taps at 7” social media campaign honors front-line heroes in New Jersey and across the country. Beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Devils social media platforms will post videos of team players, alumni, coaches, management, front office staff, Black and Red Members and corporate partners saluting doctors, nurses and health care workers with “stick taps” in appreciation.
As part of the team’s “Pay it Forward” program, the Devils have pledged to donate an additional pair of tickets to RWJBarnabas health care workers in conjunction with season ticket and plan members who push credits forward to the 2020-21 season.
The initiatives are just the latest ways HBSE and the Devils have contributed to RWJBarnabas Health and its Emergency Response Fund.
In March, HBSE and the Devils made a donation that went to the purchase of critical equipment and supplies, to help combat the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, including personal protective equipment, N95 masks, surgical masks, gloves, gowns, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, eye protection and other critically needed equipment.
RWJBarnabas Health CEO Barry Ostrowsky said he is humbled by all the contributions and the assistance.
“We are incredibly appreciative of the Devils’ commitment to donate tickets to RWJBarnabas Health front-line workers and their families, as they are the selfless, dedicated heroes during this critical time,” he said. “Josh Harris, David Blitzer and the entire Devils organization have offered tremendous support to our entire system and I am sure our front-line staff can’t wait to cheer on the Devils when they are back on the ice.”
Individuals or organizations interested in donating funds and/or personal protective equipment to the RWJBarnabas Health Emergency Response Fund can click here.
